Comet Ping Pong

Comet Ping Pong, a restaurant in Washington, D.C., was the subject of the debunked conspiracy theory known as Pizzagate. This theory falsely alleged that the family-friendly pizzeria was a front for a child pornography ring led by Democrats.12

Pizzagate gained traction in the fall of 2016, fueled by misinformation spread online, particularly after the hacking of John Podesta's emails. Despite being disproven by law enforcement and news organizations, the conspiracy theory led to real-world violence, including an incident where a man fired a rifle inside the restaurant. Pizzagate is considered a precursor to the QAnon conspiracy theory.21